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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI: The heavy industries ministry has proposed new localization rules for e-ambulances under the ₹10,900 crore PM E-drive scheme, allowing manufacturers to import traction motors fitted with rare earth magnets till 3 March 2026, the ministry said in response to Mint’s email query.

This week’s visit to India of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has drawn New Delhi’s long relationship with Moscow into the spotlight. The India-Russia bond has been strong and steady, as evident in the fact that it has outlasted many shifts in global geopolitics. Looking at the cooperation between the two, whether it is on defence materiel or navigating past twists and turns in the global order, India and Russia have understood each other’s requirements and managed to support each other in their time of need.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : Problems in renewal of visas for Chinese technicians have slowed the pace of buildout of India’s lithium-ion battery manufacturing factories for electric vehicles and energy storage, according to two people aware of the matter. The issues are happening despite bilateral relations between India and China having eased in the past few months.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI: French spirits major Pernod Ricard India is sharpening its focus on premium alcohol, exiting the mass-market whisky segment even as it launches a new India-made brand aimed at consumers trading up. The company this week completed the sale of its Imperial Blue whisky, among India’s largest-selling mass brands, to Tilaknagar Industries.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: The ministry of heavy industries has identified ports, steel, cement and logistics as sectors to generate demand for electric trucks (e-trucks) under the PM E-Drive scheme after turning up empty-handed in the first half of the scheme, according to two officials aware of the development. The ₹500 crore, two-year scheme for e-trucks is set to end in fiscal year 2026 (FY26).

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: India's premium whisky, including single malts, headed to the US may not be hit even as the liquor sector may feel the heat of the additional 26% reciprocal tariffs introduced by the US. “An increase in tariffs does have an impact, but whether it will be significant or just a knee-jerk reaction will become clear only after the release of the detailed schedule in the next few days," said Vinod Giri, director general, Brewers Association of India (BAI).

Donald Trump’s tariff imposition, and is focusing efforts on negotiating a bilateral trade deal with the US to bring down duties, according to a Indian government official. The South Asian country is seeking dialogue and not confrontation, the official said, adding that India has first mover advantage compared to rivals in the region. India plans to work toward a balanced and equitable trade deal with the US, the official said. All options are up for negotiation, and both goods and services will be discussed, according to the official. The government is also in touch with exporters on the expected impact and will help if they reach out. Trump last week announced a 26% tariff on US imports from India, dealing a blow to exporters and risking exacerbating a slowdown in an economy already suffering from weak consumer confidence. A lower negotiated rate could provide some relief, though escalating global trade tensions are still a threat. During his visit to Washington after Trump’s return to the Oval Office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US president agreed to negotiate a bilateral trade deal by the fall of this year.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: India will refrain from taking retaliatory action against the US’ reciprocal tariffs or making sharp public responses against Washington, keeping trade diplomacy at the centre of its strategy, a senior government official said. As a global tariff war unfolds in response to US President Donald Trump’s additional tariffs on more than 60 nations, India is taking a calm and measured approach, positioning itself as a balanced negotiator, the official said.

Modi will hold talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the PM of Saudi Arabia. Both sides will look to take forward agreements finalised during the crown prince’s trip to India in 2023. The protracted Israel-Hamas crisis and tensions in the Red Sea besides the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) are likely to figure in the discussion agenda, it has been learnt. Saudi Arabia plays a critical role in the proposed IMEEC connecting India with Europe through UAE and Saudi Arabia. Ahead of the PM's trip to Riyadh, Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also the Defence Minister of UAE, is expected to visit New Delhi next week in yet another display of special ties. Sheikh Hamdan will meet defence minister Rajnath Singh as India moves to step up engagements with UAE’s next generation leadership. Last year, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi was hosted by the Modi government.

Modi was also honoured with Sri Lanka's highest civilian award, Mithra Vibhushana, for his exceptional efforts in bolstering the ties between the two nations and highlighting the spiritual and cultural heritage of both countries. New Delhi and Colombo will move strategically closer in terms of joint maritime surveillance, military exercises, and equipment support with the defence agreement. The other MoUs focus on implementing India's UPI payment system in Sri Lanka, enhancing renewable energy trade through a proposed grid connectivity project, and ferry and aviation services to improve people-to-people ties. The Modi and the Lankan President virtually inaugurated the construction of the Sampur solar power project. They also inaugurated the recently completed temperature-controlled warehousing facility at Dambulla, which is possibly the first facility of its kind in the island, and a project for supply of solar rooftop systems to nearly 5,000 religious institutions across Sri Lanka.

reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US and has a first mover advantage as compared to other countries because of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) that the two are negotiating, officials said, adding that Indian exporters are better positioned to deal with the additional US tariffs as compared to their competitors. The country, they said, will take all measures to check dumping of goods from China as Beijing is slapped with steeper tariffs and work within the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework to prevent the dumping of excess capacity into its markets by countries hit by high US tariffs. “The government is there to protect domestic industry from any possibility of dumping of goods in such a situation,” said an official. New Delhi is also exploring measures to protect sensitive sectors like dairy and agriculture amid the trade war. While the reciprocal tariffs on India are 26%, those on China are 34%. India is also likely to gain from the US-China trade war.

Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) deployed in Sri Lanka nearly four decades back. On the second day of his visit, Modi visited the IPKF Memorial in this Sri Lankan capital city and laid a wreath. In a social media post, Modi said the «unwavering courage and commitment» of the brave soldiers of the IPKF remained a «source of inspiration for us all.» «Laid a wreath at the IPKF Memorial in Colombo. We remember the brave soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force who laid down their lives in service of peace, unity and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka,» he said. «Their unwavering courage and commitment remain a source of inspiration for us all,» Modi added. India had lost around 1,200 soldiers during the IPKF's stay in Sri Lanka between July 1987 and March 1990.

K Annamalai on Friday announced that 'he is not in the race' to become the next state unit chief. «There is no contest in Tamil Nadu BJP; we will select a leader unanimously. But I am not in the race. I am not in the BJP state leadership race,» Annamalai said while speaking to reporters here today. The tenure of K Annamalai as the Tamil Nadu state President ended a few months back as per the party laws and is currently continuing in the position until the next chief is elected. The state party Presidency elections are likely to take place on the 9th and 10th of this month. They will be headed by the state party in charge and leaders from Delhi. Earlier, AIADMK general secretary Edapaddi K Palaniswami met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi a few days back, which gave rise to speculations of an alliance between the two parties once again.

trade tariffs, industrialist Anand Mahindra believes India is being overlooked — and that could be a big mistake. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on global trade partners, including a 34% duty on Chinese goods. In response, China hit back with a 34% tariff on all imports from the U.S., escalating fears of a prolonged trade war. While the spotlight has largely remained on China, the U.S. also slapped a 26% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods, citing high import duties imposed by New Delhi. Amid this global shake-up, Mahindra sees an opening for India. Taking to X, the Mahindra Group Chairman said that while most global forums are focused on how China may benefit or retaliate, India remains a “non-topic of discussion." However, he argued that India is poised to become the world’s third-largest economy and, as the world’s largest democracy, is uniquely positioned thanks to its vast domestic consumption and strong supply chains. Mahindra also called for a “measured reaction” to tariffs, urging India to adopt smart policies that help it emerge as the world’s most reliable economic partner — and a key pillar in a new, multipolar global order.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: In the immediate aftermath of the new US tariffs, India’s response has been twofold: to seek new opportunities in the changing world order, and re-evaluate its manufacturing strategy.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : As the US recalibrates its reciprocal tariff policy following a data miscalculation, India will now face an additional 26% tariff across a range of commodities starting 9 April. This marks a slight downward revision from the 27% hike announced on 2 April after the US administration corrected its trade deficit computations.

Startup Mahakumbh 2025, an event being organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), is hosting a series of competitions to promote innovation in in fields such as cybersecurity, AI, robotics, biotech, and more. The prize pool for the competiton, will be Rs 70 crore according to Union minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal on Thursday. Goyal described the Startup MahaRathi Challenge as India’s largest private-funded challenge. Goyal took to X to praise the initiative and said, “Rs 70 crore challenge money to encourage new startups!”

Piyush Goyal stirred controversy while addressing the Startup Mahakumbh 2025 in New Delhi. His remarks on India’s startup ecosystem, specifically his rhetorical question, «Are we going to be happy being delivery boys and girls? » drew mixed reactions from the entrepreneurial community. By comparing India’s startup landscape to China’s, Goyal ignited a broader debate about the country’s technological aspirations and economic growth.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: NHPC Ltd is considering raising about ₹2,000 crore through the securitization of assets in the upcoming financial year, according to two people in the know, as the state-run hydropower major seeks to raise funds for expansion.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: Lava, the homegrown smartphone and accessories brand, is in talks with investors to raise up to ₹500 crore ($58 million) in the coming months before pursuing a public listing, a senior company executive said, as the company looks to ramp up its presence in the country. Sunil Raina, executive director at Lava International, did not disclose the valuation for its current funding effort but referred to an earlier attempt.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: US President Donald Trump’s tariff thunderbolt sent shockwaves across world capitals on Thursday, turning the clock back on globalization and raising fears of a tariff war.